Adapter for twin flexible machine guns



' IN ENTORL CLEM G. TRIMBACH.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 17, 1934 C G TRIMBACH ADAPTER FOR TWIN FLEXIBLE MACHINE GUNS Sept. 17, 1935.

Patented Sept. 17, 1935 ADAPTER FOR TWIN FLEXIBLE MACHINE GUNS Clem G..Trimbach, Kenmore, N. Y., assignor to Curtiss Aeroplane &Motor Company, Inc., a corporation of New York Application March 17, 1934, Serial No. 716,009 6 Claims. (01. 89-373 This invention relates to aircraft armament, and is more particularly concerned with a uni versal mounting for a pair of machine guns and with the provision of a common ammunition container for the guns.

It is known that in aircraft flexible gun mounts,,.

. mount, two guns have been mounted with no improved function except that an additional factor of safety has been obtained should one gun jam or cease to fire. The present invention is concerned with an improved mounting for a pair of guns, wherein the guns are spaced only a short distance apart, and are at all times held in fixed relationship with respect to each other.

An object of the invention is to provide a universal mounting for a pair of guns so that the guns may be moved through a wide range of aiming angles, together.

A further object is to so organize the mount for two guns that it uses upa minimum of space.

Still another object is to provide a retrieving case for the clips ejected from the guns after the cartridges have been fired-it iscurrent practice now to use a machine gun belt comprising a plurality of separable clips which normally are thrown away upon ejection from the gun. By retrieving these clips in a single container common to both guns, economy of operation of the gun is obtained.

A further object is to provide containers for belted ammunition, one such container being located on the outside of each gun.

Still another object is to provide means for quickly detaching both the belted ammunition containers and the container for ammunition clips.

Another object is to provide a universal connection comprising a ball and socket joint between the gun carrying adapter and the support therefor, whereby the guns may be swung through any angle of tilt within the limitations imposed on such movement by the construction of the ball and socket joint. The universal connection is organized to lie substantially at the joint center of gravity of the two guns.

Still another object is to simplify the gun grips whereby individual or simultaneous operation of the guns may easily be attained.

Further objects will be apparent from a reading of the annexed specification and claims and from a consideration of the drawings, in which similar numbers indicate similar parts, and in which: Fig. l is a plan of a pair of machine guns mounted in accordance with this invention; 5

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mounted guns, partly broken away to show the method of mounting same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; 11

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view partly broken away, of the rack which is adapted to hold a container for elements of expended ammunition; 15

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 ,of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the gun adapter and support;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the elements of the ball and socket joint by which the '20 gun adapter is mounted on the support; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross section of the ball and socket joint by,which the adapter is mounted on its support.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises a 25 substantially vertical support member which is organized to be attached to a flexible gun mount carriage, this member having a ball formed at its upper end. An adapter-is provided at its midportion with 'a socket within which the ball is 30 adapted to engage, and lateral projections are provided at each end of the gun adapter upon which each of a pair of machine guns may be mounted, the guns thereby being held in spaced parallel relation with theball and socket joint between them. Each gun is provided with fastening means on each side thereof, and a container is arranged to be attached to the inner fasteningme a'ns of both guns, this container being provided with apertures opposite the breeches 40 of the guns, whereby the separable ammunition clips ejected from the guns may be passed into the container. The outer fastening means of each gun carry belted ammunition for service to the gun. The usual pair of spade grips on a single machine gun are reorganized, so that when the gun is mounted, only the outer spade grips of each gun remain. Thereby, two handles are provided for aiming the guns, instead of the four which would otherwise be present. The usual thumb trigger on each gun is left intact so that the gunner may fire the left gun with his left thumb, and fire the right gun with this right humb.

For a more detailed understanding of the in-'55 vention, reference may be made to the drawings.

Machine guns I and II are mounted in spaced parallel relationship on an adapter I 2, this adapter, as shown in Fig. 7, comprising a pair of spaced side plates I3 and I4 joined by bolts I5 and I6 extending therebetween and extending laterally therebeyond. Each gun is provided with fittings I1 through which the bolts I5 and I6 may pass, the guns then being secured to said bolts by means of nuts I8 screwed on their outer threaded ends. Centrally of the adapter I2, a ball socket is attached, this socket comprising split socket halves I9 and 20 attached respectively on the inner faces of the side plates I3 and I4 by bolts 2|. The sockets I9 and 20 engage around a ball 22 carried by a support 23. It will be noted that the degree of frictional pressure of the ball sockets I9 and 20 upon the ball 22 may be adjusted by loosening or tightening the bolts 2|. Thereby, the mounted guns may be more or less easily swung on the mount. The support 23 is provided with a fitting 24 at its lower end which is engageable within the standard gun adapter socket on a flexible gun mount carriage, not shown.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, it will be noted that a single rear sight 25 and front sight 26 may be mounted on one gun, this pair of sights, however, adequately serving both guns since their lateral spacing is small.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the gun I0 is provided with a laterally extending spade grip 21, and the gun I I is provided with an oppositely extending spade grip 28. By grasping the grips 21 and 28, both guns may be simultaneously moved and aimed. Each gun is provided with the usual thumb trigger 29, the trigger on the left gun I0 being operated by the left thumb of the 'gunner, and the trigger of the right gun |I being operated by the right thumb of the gunner. Thus, either or both guns may befired at will.

As best shown in Fig. 4, each gun is provided at each side of its breech with a block 30, all these blocks being substantially the same. Each block is longitudinally bored to receive a pin 3|, and is provided with lateral recesses 32 to receive ears formed on the ammunition containers. A container 33 is provided with a clip 34 having ears 35 engageable within the recesses 32 formed in the block 30 on the outside of the gun I I, the ears being retained in place by the insertion of the pin 3| through the block bore. The clip 34 is provided at its lower end with a channel-shaped projection 36 organized to engage the lower portion of the gun. Thereby, the container 33 is held rigidly to the gun, but may be easily detached therefrom by removal of the pin 3|. In this container 33, an ammunition box 31 may be slipped, the box having a chute 38 through which belted ammunition passes to the gun. The gun I0 is provided on its outer face with an ammunition container 39 with mounting means therefor similar in all respects to those provided in conjunction with the container 33 for the gun ll. Between the guns, a rack 40 is held, this rack having ears 4| which may lie within the recesses 32 formed in the bored blocks 30 on the inner faces of the guns, the rack 40 being held in place by the insertion of pins 3| in the blocks 30. This rack is also braced by means of a spring clip 42 riveted to its bottom, which clip, when the rack is shoved rearwardly into place, engages the bolt I5 on the adapter. Within the rack, a box 43 is slipped, this box having apertures 44 on each side thereof which are organized to lie Opposite the clip ejecting opening on each gun. The rack 40 is provided with an overturned flange 45 which engages the top surface of the box 43 to hold its rearward end in position, said rack also being provided with an upturned flange 46, within 5 which the forward lower corner of the box 43 is held. A spring clip 41 carried by the box engages a bead formed on the flange 46, whereby the box is firmly held in place. The box 43 may be provided with a door 48 hinged'at 49, so that, when the box 43 is removed, clips fed thereinto by operation of the gun may be removed from the box. Said door 48 may be provided with a baflle 50 depending from its inner face to guide 7 clips into the interior of the box and to prevent their getting clogged.

By the structure above described, it will be apparent that all parts of the guns or mount are readily accessible for servicing. The ammunition boxes and clip retrieving box are readily removable, as also are the containers for said boxes. Likewise, the guns may easily be detached for servicing by removal of the nuts I8, while the ball and socket joint may readily be adjusted either with or without the guns in place.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from thespirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft gun mount comprising a support having an upper ball end, an adapter including a ball socket within which said ball is organized to engage, means carried by said adapter on each side of said ball socket to which, respectively, each of a pair of machine guns are adapted to be attached, and a container for receiving elements of spent ammunition from both guns carried by said adapter between said guns.

2. In an aircraft gun mount, in combination, an adapter, a pair of machine guns, means for attaching said guns to said adapter in spaced parallel relationship, a container centrally located on said adapter, said container having openings for each gun through which elements of spent ammunition are adapted to pass to said container, and ammunition supply cases carried by each gunon the side thereof which is remote from said adapter.

3. A mount for twin machine guns comprising a support formed with a ball end, a pair of blocks having spherical recesses formed therein within which said ball engages, a pair of adapter members, meanspassing through said blocks and said members for adjustably holding said blocks and members against said ball, and means at the ends of said members and projecting laterally therefrom for holding a pair of machine guns in spaced relation,

4. In a gun mount including a pair of machine guns in spaced parallel relation, a rack fixed between said guns, a container for elements of spent ammunition removably fitted in said rack, and resilient means for holding said container in said rack.

5. In an aircraft gun installation including a pair of guns mounted in spaced parallel relation,

a fastening device on each side of each gun, a container for elements of spent ammunition attached at its sides to the inner said device on allel outer surfaces, a pair of side plates each engaging one said surface. means fastened through said plates and blocks for holding same in assembled relation and for holding said blocks in frictional engagement with said ball, and substantially parallel rods extending through the ends of said plates and extending laterally on each side of the assembly of plates and blocks, upon which rod extensions a pair of guns may be mounted.

CLEM G. 'I'RlMBACl-I. 

